A message from our Chair, Sonia Bassey, MBE:
Following recent advice and direction by Government regarding Covid-19 that large gatherings should not take place and recent school, university and public venue closures, we have taken the decision to postpone Mandela Week and the Mandela family visit.
In agreement with Dr Maki and Tukwini Mandela and our partners and sponsors we will be organizing the visit to take place during July 2021, government guidelines permitting.
All our efforts at this time should be directed at our vulnerable and elderly in society and our health and emergency services.
Our programme for the visit included all schools across the Liverpool City Region, a range of public events across Cheshire and Merseyside and two major celebration events so understandably these cannot take place at this time.
Dr Maki and Tukwini Mandela said: “We are sorry we cannot be with you in July this year. It is important that we take all our Governments advice seriously and stay safe. We look forward to being with you all next year in Liverpool and you have a heartfelt and sincerest best wishes for you and your families during this difficult time”.
Your health and wellbeing remain our greatest priority and Mandela8 are currently revising a range of activities we are committed to so that people can still take part via social media or digital solutions. These include our Roots and Wings Young Leaders Programme and our National Heritage Lottery Fund Memorial and Legacy Programme.
We would like to thank you, our sponsors and funders for your ongoing support and want you to stay safe and look out for each other.
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 Patron2020 will comprise of a special visit by the Mandela family to Liverpool to celebrate a week of activities to mark what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 101st birthday.
The visit will coincide with the official opening of the Mandela8 Nelson Mandela Memorial in
Prince’s Park, Liverpool 8, and the celebration of Mandela Day, which charitable organization Mandela8 will celebrate as part of a week-long series of events and celebrations.
Mandela8’s initial vision is to see a permanent memorial that functions as a unique performance, conversation and contemplation space established in Prince’s Park to celebrate, commemorate and pursue the legacy of Nelson Mandela’s outstanding achievements for humanity.
The memorial will also be a focal point and catalyst for community development and cohesion through a series of creative commissions and collaborations with widespread community and educational engagement and participation.
Dr Makaziwe (Maki) Mandela and Tukwini Mandela, Nelson Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter, took part in an official three-day visit to Liverpool in February this year to commemorate the 29-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison at a reception hosted by the city, and to officially mark the start the works on site for the memorial.
The idea of Mandela Day is that everyone has the ability to make an impact and do something in their own way to change the world and the world of those around them.
July 18 is Nelson Mandela International Day, now more widely known as Mandela Day, and was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, to acknowledge his values and dedication to the service of humanity and struggle for international democracy and peace throughout the world.
The day remembers Mandela’s achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace and reconciliation. ‘Madiba’, as Nelson Mandela was fondly known, was one of South Africa’s greatest heroes.
Not only is he loved and respected as one of the greatest leaders in South Africa, he is also admired and respected around the world.
Liverpool has its own special relationship and connection with Nelson Mandela.
When Liverpool became aware of apartheid and Mandela’s incarceration, community activists, unions and the city came together to support the Free Nelson Mandela Campaign, and took a solid stance against apartheid.
Liverpool is built on strong political and social values and has experienced oppression, but not on the scale of South Africa.
So when awareness of the brutality of apartheid in South Africa became known in Liverpool, the city united to support Mandela, the ANC and South African people.
Mandela was gifted the freedom of the city in 1994 and a civic reception was held there in his honour 20 years later.
Mandela’s fight for justice began in 1942, and for 67 tireless years, he continued to fight for social justice and human rights.
The Mandela Week programme is designed to enable individuals and groups to give 67 minutes of their day – one minute for every year – to help someone else, ideally on Mandela Day or in that week.
Dr Maki Mandela said: “What good deed are you going to do today for someone that will make their life better?”
Words by Rodney Hinds, published in The Voice (Dec, 2019)
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First elected African-Caribbean female Government Minister becomes Mandela8 PatronWork is to start by the end of the year installing a memorial and bridge in a Liverpool park, dedicated to the memory of Nelson Mandela.
The Princes Park scheme includes a new ‘Freedom Bridge’, pavilion and 32 cylindrical stoneworks inscribed with inspirational Mandela quotes. The pedestals represent the oil drums Mandela used to grow an allotment on the rooftop of Pollsmoor Prison.
The project reflects upon Mandela’s love of gardens and horticulture along with his struggle for freedom, equality and humanity, and the spaces will be used for future activity in the park, acting as a focal point and an area to visit, reflect and educate.
The city council has already restored the surrounding lake including reinstating the water channel, fixing edging stones, putting in fishing platforms and ecological improvements.
His family – eldest daughter Dr Makaziwe ‘Maki’ Mandela and his granddaughter Tukwini Mandela – have confirmed they will be coming to the city for the official opening at Princes Park in July 2020, as part of Mandela Week, on what would have been his 101st birthday.
They were last in the city in February this year when they toured the site and visited a number of community projects and viewed artwork created by Nelson Mandela which is on permanent display at St George’s Hall gifted to the city by his daughter.
Funding for the memorial and bridge has come from a number of sources including planning agreements made with developers (section 106) and UNI Global, a conglomerate of unions representing 20 million workers in the skills and services sectors.
Dr Makaziwe Mandela and Tukwini Mandela (pictured above) said: “We are delighted to be coming back to Liverpool, a city dear to our hearts.
“It will be a special moment indeed when the memorial is opened and so special to us to know that the memorial is Liverpool’s way of continuing to show their love and respect for our Father and Grandfather and ensure his legacy lives on.
“Liverpool’s connection to South Africa and its support of Anti-Apartheid is significant and we look forward to developing a legacy for the future of Liverpool by being there to lead Mandela week.”
Sonia Bassey, Chair and one of the founding members of Mandela8, said: “The last five years for Mandela8 have been the most amazing journey.
“We have worked hard with the communities of Liverpool to realise their dream and are so excited to finally see the memorial installed.
“We were told we had given our communities hope when the Mandela family visited Liverpool last year, so we are humbled that they would want to come back and share this special moment with us and bless the very place that will be fundamental to our ongoing educational work in communities.
“We have exciting plans for Mandela Week next year that will truly make commemorating Mandela’s birthday special.”
Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “It is fantastic news that we will be starting work on the Mandela memorial, which will be a lasting tribute to his unrivalled achievements in bringing the evil of apartheid to an end.
“The memorial project has been years in the planning and I know from meeting them last year how touched the family are that this tribute will be taking centre stage in such a beautiful green space.
“It will be a privilege and an honour to once again welcome the Mandela family for what will be a very special occasion when the memorial is completed.”
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